his head in response, not bothering with a verbal answer.
Gathering what little energy she had left, Hayden stepped off the stairs and padded her way over to him. Instead of feeling threatened at his brooding figure, something encouraged Hayden closer. She wouldn’t resist it, especially if it meant she could get to sleep sooner.
Besides, if Cole needed consoling, Hayden supposed she could push aside her unfamiliarity with him and lend a hand. After last night’s events, at The Lounge , her perception of Cole had changed drastically. The Alpha may be cold, and outwardly uncaring, but he was fiercely protective of his pack. Hayden had to admire that trait; she had to respect him for it.
Stopping at the window, Hayden peered out at the backyard, thinking it was more of a forest than anything else . There was a blanket of endless trees, stretching as far as the eye could see. Above, the moon hung crookedly, casting bright shadows across the treetops and staining them silver.
Cole’s eyes sought Hayden’s through the reflection, his expression appearing almost melancholic. “You should sleep, Hayden, it’s been a long day for you.”
“Is that your way of getting rid of me?” Hayden joked lightly, turning away from the scenery and up at him. In the silver wash of the moon, his features looked sharp and masculine. No matter how long she looked, she couldn’t see a single flaw.
“Never,” Cole denied seriously.
Pushing off from the window, the Alpha leaned his shoulder against the glass pane and looked down at her. His eyes slowly descended to her exposed legs and his mouth thinned.
Hayden frowned, not liking the penetrating gaze. She crossed her arms protectively over her chest, raising an eyebrow when he looked back up at her face.
“You need clothes,” he announced suddenly with a sigh. “I apologize, I wasn’t thinking.” His weary expression made him look older than he was. “You’re my first pup, forgive my slips.”
The apology was completely unexpected. “It’s not a big deal,” she argued, feeling guilty that he needed to purchase her clothes. She wasn’t used to being dependent on others.
Hayden observed him, noticing his mood hadn’t lightened after her subtle reassurance. He was too hard on himself, but it didn’t come to a surprise to her. Everyone in this town seemed to doubt his ability to be a successful Alpha. According to them, he was too inexperienced, too young.
“What are you thinking?” he inquired, his eyes lingering across her face.
Hayden frowned. There could be many possibilities why Cole couldn’t sleep, so her sudden presence in his pack might not have even been on his radar. Still, she needed to address it.
“It must have been hard for you to take me into your pack. You must have risked a lot to—”
“I have,” he admitted, cutting her off abruptly.
She blinked, taken aback at his admittance. Although she wanted to storm away and wallow in loathing, her feet remained planted and her chin remained lifted. She had never been more insulted, but if that was what he felt, she couldn’t do much to change his mind, simply because it was true.
As if sensing her vulnerability, Cole covered her shoulder with a warm hand and tugged her closer. A miniscule smile ghosted across his lips as he leaned nearer, ignoring Hayden’s stiff and rigid body. His breath tickled the skin beneath her ear, yet he somehow, he kept his distance.
“Both you and I have risked a great deal by having you in my pack, Hayden. Some things, you wouldn’t even begin to understand … ” he rasped, sounding expressive. His hand tightened on her shoulder. “Despite the risks involved, I don’t regret taking you in. I want you here with me, in my pack. Don’t ever forget that. We just need to work hard to get past the obstacles.”
Hayden didn’t know what kind of risks she was taking by becoming a member of his pack. Nonetheless, she remained silent, knowing he was trying to take the
Gathering what little energy she had left, Hayden stepped off the stairs and padded her way over to him. Instead of feeling threatened at his brooding figure, something encouraged Hayden closer. She wouldn’t resist it, especially if it meant she could get to sleep sooner.
Besides, if Cole needed consoling, Hayden supposed she could push aside her unfamiliarity with him and lend a hand. After last night’s events, at The Lounge , her perception of Cole had changed drastically. The Alpha may be cold, and outwardly uncaring, but he was fiercely protective of his pack. Hayden had to admire that trait; she had to respect him for it.
Stopping at the window, Hayden peered out at the backyard, thinking it was more of a forest than anything else . There was a blanket of endless trees, stretching as far as the eye could see. Above, the moon hung crookedly, casting bright shadows across the treetops and staining them silver.
Cole’s eyes sought Hayden’s through the reflection, his expression appearing almost melancholic. “You should sleep, Hayden, it’s been a long day for you.”
“Is that your way of getting rid of me?” Hayden joked lightly, turning away from the scenery and up at him. In the silver wash of the moon, his features looked sharp and masculine. No matter how long she looked, she couldn’t see a single flaw.
“Never,” Cole denied seriously.
Pushing off from the window, the Alpha leaned his shoulder against the glass pane and looked down at her. His eyes slowly descended to her exposed legs and his mouth thinned.
Hayden frowned, not liking the penetrating gaze. She crossed her arms protectively over her chest, raising an eyebrow when he looked back up at her face.
“You need clothes,” he announced suddenly with a sigh. “I apologize, I wasn’t thinking.” His weary expression made him look older than he was. “You’re my first pup, forgive my slips.”
The apology was completely unexpected. “It’s not a big deal,” she argued, feeling guilty that he needed to purchase her clothes. She wasn’t used to being dependent on others.
Hayden observed him, noticing his mood hadn’t lightened after her subtle reassurance. He was too hard on himself, but it didn’t come to a surprise to her. Everyone in this town seemed to doubt his ability to be a successful Alpha. According to them, he was too inexperienced, too young.
“What are you thinking?” he inquired, his eyes lingering across her face.
Hayden frowned. There could be many possibilities why Cole couldn’t sleep, so her sudden presence in his pack might not have even been on his radar. Still, she needed to address it.
“It must have been hard for you to take me into your pack. You must have risked a lot to—”
“I have,” he admitted, cutting her off abruptly.
She blinked, taken aback at his admittance. Although she wanted to storm away and wallow in loathing, her feet remained planted and her chin remained lifted. She had never been more insulted, but if that was what he felt, she couldn’t do much to change his mind, simply because it was true.
As if sensing her vulnerability, Cole covered her shoulder with a warm hand and tugged her closer. A miniscule smile ghosted across his lips as he leaned nearer, ignoring Hayden’s stiff and rigid body. His breath tickled the skin beneath her ear, yet he somehow, he kept his distance.
“Both you and I have risked a great deal by having you in my pack, Hayden. Some things, you wouldn’t even begin to understand … ” he rasped, sounding expressive. His hand tightened on her shoulder. “Despite the risks involved, I don’t regret taking you in. I want you here with me, in my pack. Don’t ever forget that. We just need to work hard to get past the obstacles.”
Hayden didn’t know what kind of risks she was taking by becoming a member of his pack. Nonetheless, she remained silent, knowing he was trying to take the
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